Saturday kid who lived for the movies

Every now and then, I come across a poem or piece of writing that makes me smile. And of course, I want to share it with you - happy weekend!

The Saturday Kid
 by Alan Gilbert

I was the Saturday kid
Who lived for the movies,
That magic arena
Where fantasies play.
I rode on the prairie
And dived in the ocean,
Then stayed in a rapture
The rest of the day.

Unseen friend

I am sad for Amelia this week. Her final week of the school year, and her last week with two best friends. Both friends are changing schools. Amelia goes to summer school because I work a couple days a week, and I fear next week's tears; she cries when she feels alone. She is devastated that her friends will not be there anymore. The other kids love Amelia, but she has an extra special bond with these two.

I hope she soon finds that bond again with more adorable friends.

Until then, I'm reminded of "The Unseen Friend." I hope he/she does an extra good job for my girl next week!

When children are playing alone on the green,
In comes the playmate that never was seen.
When children are happy and lonely and good,
The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.

Nobody heard him, and nobody saw,
His is a picture you never could draw,
But he's sure to be present, abroad or at home,
When children are happy and playing alone.

He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass,
He sings when you tinkle the musical glass;
Whene'er you are happy and cannot tell why,
The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!

--Robert Louis Stevenson

WW: Best poetry ever

I cannot wait to share Shel Silverstein's brilliance with my daughter! I remember school library days, checking out Where The Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic over and over and over again.

Pure genius.
Smiles in a book.

She drew a rainbow

I came across this poem the other day, and my face broke out in a smile. No one was around, no one could see my happy face, but I couldn't help but grin.

This reminds me so much of my own little artist. One day, she will be too big to draw rainbows.

A Little Daughter

She drew

Mother and father

Brother and sister

And a rainbow

She drew

A tree and a root

A stone and a brook

And a rainbow

She drew

A house and a roof

A chimney and a sweeper

And a rainbow

She drew

A path and a step

A sound of a key

And a rainbow

She drew

A table and chairs

A meal and desert

And a rainbow

She drew

A bed and a lullaby

A good night kiss

And a rainbow

She drew

The night and a star

A Moon upon a star

And a rainbow

She drew

Mother and father

Sister and brother

And a rainbow

--Miroslava Odalovic

from http://www.poemhunter.com

"A careful woman" (reminder for moms)

I wish I could say I wrote this, but I did not. I came across it recently and it just stuck. It haunts me in a way, not like a regret or nightmare, but as a guardian angel reminding me to strive for my best:

"The Little One That Follows Me"

(author unknown)

A careful woman, I ought to be;
a little one follows me.
I do not dare to go astray,
for fear they'll go, the self-same way.

I cannot once escape their eyes,
whatever they see me do, they'll try.
Like me, they say, they're going to be,
that little one that follows me.

They think that I am good and fine;
believe in every work of mine.
The bad in me they must not see;
my life to them, must, an example be.

I must remember, as I go,
through summer's sun and winter's snow,
I'm building for the years to be,
for that little one that follows me.

It is not easy to strive for our best every day. Fatigue transforms our amusement into impatience, and impatience chases away our calm voice. No human is perfect; all we can do is try.

But try I will.
I have no other choice.

Pumpkin Huntin' - Ode to October

Stepping gingerly down each row,

How to choose? I do not know.

This one leans a bit to the side,

That one's so ugly it wants to hide.

I touch the stems and feel for bumps,

I don't want one with awkward lumps.

This one is too big,

That one is too small,

How do I find the best one of all?

Ode to my princess

I am no poet, but this one makes me smile.

I wrote it and posted it in February... but it deserves a second debut.

I love my little girl!!!

Mama is not a girly girl,

I never wore bows or lace. 

I dress in jeans,

I lounge in sweats,

Just a touch of makeup on my face.

A boy was my plan,

Someone to grow strong as a man.

On the field,

Or in the stands,

I could be his loudest fan.

Then we looked upon the screen,

And a girl you were to be!

Sugar and spice,

Sure, those things are nice.

But - what would a girl mean to me?

Sometimes when we have a plan,

Life takes a turn of course.

A princess you would be,

So sweet and cuddly,

In a moment I had no remorse!

I think I went out that day,

To buy hairbows, dresses and rings.

Pink, pink, pink, pink,

with sparkles and shine.

Now life is BRIGHT with girly things!

You were meant to join our family,

You were meant to have your style.

You can still play ball,

You can tackle, you may fall.

But a beauty and a lady all the while.

Just another Southern night

Lightnin’ bugs and root beer floats,

    Rockin’ chairs and music notes.

Friends and neighbors chatting bright,

    Just another southern night.

Eyelids heavy, mama’s hand in mine,

    It is time for bed, and that’s just fine.

For nothing else could feel so right,

    Just another southern night.

Verse x3

April is almost upon us. A month where spring arrives in full bloom, golfers gather for the Masters, and my baby girl turns another year older. April is also national poetry month! In honor of the occasion (and frankly, because I am short on blogging time this week), I crafted short poems in three different styles.

Can you guess the type of poem for each?
(Answers below!)

Ants scurry to build their homes,

Bees flutter from flower to flower,

Caterpillars crawl up the bark of a tree,

Day lilies begin to peek from the earth.

In the warmth of spring, hope drives life.

Memories and hope,

Where we turn when times are rough,

To mend our pained hearts.

If I had one wish for you,

It would be for you to be,

Happy and healthy and wise,

But still little girl to me.

What were those? In case you were wondering...

(1) ABC - A poem that has five lines that create a mood, picture, or feeling. Lines 1 through 4 are made up of words, phrases or clauses while the first word of each line is in alphabetical order. Line 5 is one sentence long and begins with any letter.

(2) Haiku - A Japanese poem composed of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five (syllables).

(3) Quatrain - A stanza or poem consisting of four lines. Lines 2 and 4 must rhyme while having a similar number of syllables. 
(source: PoetryOfQuotes.com)


 
Prompt #2: April is national poetry month...Write a poem about hope.